As our name suggests, “Travel to the Azores” is a small team of experts passionate about the Azores archipelago, that paradise lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and belonging to Portugal (and therefore part of the European Union). And that, for a whole host of reasons: spectacular natural beauty, well-preserved local life, accessibility from the mainland, sustainable tourism… However hard we look, we can’t find a single reason not to stay there 🙂
We’ve travelled the islands far and wide to offer our travellers the very best they have to give, tailoring their experience to the number of days they have, their profile (couple, family…), their age, their budget… all while growing our network of partners and discovery itineraries within a framework of healthy and sustainable tourism.
For those of you who don’t yet know this “hidden” treasure and want to know what awaits you, here are 10 must-dos we’ve gathered for you, made in the Azores 🙂 And, as we always say, even though what we’re about to show you is spectacular, you’ll never be as amazed as when you experience it for yourself; so, what is there to do in the Azores?
1 – Bathe in the natural hot thermal waters
It’s not every day you get to brag to your friends that, during your trip, you relaxed in naturally hot water at 40 degrees! Only one island in the Azores offers this, but it doesn’t do things by halves: 4 must-visit spots, including one in the heart of a tropical forest, and 2 secret spots, including one right in the ocean, promise relaxation worthy of the best professional massages. Our little touch? Plan this activity after a long hike, to thank your body for the effort 😉
2 – Taste a stew cooked by volcanic steam
You read that right! The “cozido” (the equivalent of a French pot-au-feu) is an Azorean culinary speciality, with the particularity that it is cooked directly underground, at a temperature of around 95 degrees, for 4 to 5 hours. Perhaps you’ve already heard of this speciality, which is very well known and showcased by other travel sites and blogs. But have you heard of the volcanic brunch? That’s a secret we reveal and reserve only for our travellers… 🙂
3 – Watch cetaceans by boat with a marine biologist guide
It’s no coincidence that the Azores are considered one of the richest places in the world for the quantity and variety of cetaceans: since whaling stopped in the 1980s, along with policies protecting marine flora and fauna, you’ll have the chance to cruise above a true marine sanctuary. How? By boat! And not with just anyone: in the company of biologists who combine a tourist outing with scientific research. Because observing cetaceans and other fragile species isn’t something to leave in just anyone’s hands, Travel to the Azores works only with providers of impeccable ethics. You don’t negotiate with Nature.
4 – Surf the “most beautiful wave in Portugal”
Or at least one of the most beautiful 🙂 That’s what all the lucky ones who’ve had the chance to ride this break say, located on one of the Azorean islands you wouldn’t think of first. Because it’s a place only accessible on foot or by dirt bike, since there’s no road wide enough for cars, you might wonder why bother. Because there’s a surf school there! That’s right, this little miracle means every lover of the sport has access to boards, wetsuits and an instructor if needed. Intriguing, isn’t it?
5 – Climb Pico, the highest mountain in Portugal
Nothing prepares you for the emotion you’ll feel after climbing for a few hours the hundreds of metres separating you from the base, up to Mount Pico, or even Piquinho if you still have a little courage left. And if you decide to spend the night there, you won’t know where to look between the sunset and waking up above the clouds…
6 – Swim in the most beautiful natural pool in the archipelago
Volcanic rocks of incredible geological formation surrounding crystal-clear emerald-green water? Reality outdoes the photo. In the Azores, you’ll have the chance to swim in natural pools: seawater basins at the ocean’s edge, sheltered from the swell. Some are fitted out for the public, others are left in their natural state. Mother Nature will surprise you throughout your stay, and especially at this dreamlike spot.
7 – Discover a black-sand beach in the morning, a white-sand one in the afternoon
The advantage of sailing between islands created by successive eruptions of underwater volcanoes is that you get to discover black-sand beaches and white-sand beaches, formed by the erosion of the rocks. And Travel to the Azores knows the most beautiful ones: for black sand, we suggest waterfalls tumbling straight onto the sand… for white sand, a jaw-dropping view of an enchanting islet… How about it?
8 – Photograph the most beautiful “miradouros” in the archipelago
What the Portuguese call “miradouros” are viewpoints. Whether they offer a perspective over the sea, a lake, a series of waterfalls, meadows as far as the eye can see, a local village… some are well known, others less so, but the overwhelming majority are majestic. If there were only one thing to pack in your suitcase for the Azores, it would be your camera!
9 – Walk alongside the longest rows of hydrangeas
They bloom absolutely everywhere in the Azores during the warmest months, beautifying the edges of paths, hikes, miradouros… One island gathers the most hydrangeas per square kilometre, and you can walk and walk and walk without it ever ending! Which one, and where to see the most beautiful spots?
10 – Feel like you’re at the end of the world
The watchword in the Azores? Total escape. We lied to you: it’s impossible to sum up the must-dos of the Azores in 10 points! We’d need hundreds! The nature, the local culture, the Azoreans, the cuisine, the crafts, the poetry, the light, the animals… there simply aren’t enough lists of words and adjectives to describe what you’ll see and feel in the Azores.
All these activities, and many more, can be woven into your personalised itinerary for discovering the islands of the Azores. Whether you visit just one, or use your holiday to discover several, get ready to come back from your trip a different person.
Travel to the Azores specialises in creating bespoke, eco-responsible travel programmes, tailored to your budget, your traveller profile, the number of travel days… We negotiate and book the main services of your stay for you (car rental, accommodation, activities, dining), create local, tailored discovery itineraries for you, and leave you in control of your spending: you know what you’re paying, and to whom.
Receive our free proposal by getting in touch at the following address: contact@voyage-aux-acores.com or by filling in the contact form.
